The new racing season is bringing a totally new format to our monthly column here in Chasen Racen Illustrated. Formerly known as the "Grassroots Tech Barn", I am proud to introduce the "Speed Shop Scholar Training Program”.

This month we will spend our time together to cover the maintenance and cleaning of the Box Stock carburetor. Just like the other carbs used on the other engines, the Box Stock carb is quite simple, but requires specific care to perform its best.

This month, we are going a couple steps further and explain the steps required to keep your disc clutch in top operating condition. Before we cover the maintenance, let’s take the time to explain the operation of the clutch.

We will discuss the basic operation, maintenance, and installing it onto the engine properly. Prior to the introduction of the Box Stock Engine, the shoe clutch spent most of its time tucked away on a dark shelf, or in the back of a toolbox drawer wondering if it would ever see the light of day again.

In last month’s edition of the "Grassroots Tech
Barn”, we took our Box Stock engine from the box and prepared
it for competition. This month, we are going to expand
upon that concept and get it mounted onto and hooked up
to the kart and one step closer to getting on the track.

Over the last couple of years, a new engine has
been introduced to kart racing: the Box Stock Clone. This
engine provides the racer with the opportunity to go racing
at a reduced cost. The concept of this class is to provide the
entry level, or budget racer, a less expensive option to get
started in racing.

Racing karts are mechanical in nature. Mechanical
things require tools. What tools are necessary? Do I need
a huge box full of tools, or just a few wrenches? Well, those
questions and more are the subject of this month’s article.

Racing in the cold winter months takes a bit more
preparation than the warmer months. Cold, damp weather
is not a racer’s friend. It is even a worse enemy to your
equipment. Extra care and precautions need to be taken in
order to ensure a successful winter season of racing.

In last month’s installment of the “Grassroots Tech
Barn,” we got our scale platform properly set up and accurately leveled. This month we are going to continue on
this idea and get our chassis on the scales.

Over the last few installments of the “Grassroots
Tech Barn,” we have assembled our chassis, mounted our
seat, and mounted the bodywork. This leaves us very close
to hitting the dirt and making some laps.

In last month’s installment of the “Grassroots Tech Barn,” we discussed the initial assembly of your new chassis.
From an out of the box state, we assembled our chassis
and short of a few minor details, we were track ready.

In this month’s installment of the “Grassroots Tech Barn”, we are going to explain how to properly wash your engine. This is a topic we have covered in the past, however I feel it important enough to cover again for those that may have missed
it before.

Last month we introduced you to the Briggs Racing Local
Option 206 engine platform. This month we want to expand
on this topic. As we told you last month, the LO206 is an Animal engine with a few minor changes.

There is a new racing engine from Briggs and Stratton that you may not be familiar with. It is called the Local Option 206, or LO 206 for short. This engine is based on the Animal plat-form that we have been racing for a number of years.

In this month’s installment of the “Grassroots Tech Barn” we want to focus on getting your engines ready for the coming season. Certain areas are not as fortunate as us in the south to have an all-year racing season. Other racers put away their equipment as soon as the weather cools. The goal this month is to properly maintenance your engines to avoid any damage caused by winter storage.

The Animal carb is very intimidating to some racers. They feel the carb is a vicious beast just waiting to act up and put an end to their day at the track. Basic maintenance and an over-view of its operation should clear up this misconception. This is the goal of this month’s “Grassroots Tech Barn”.

Oil leaks are never a pleasant thing to deal with. One ounce of oil can look like a gallon once it has circulated around your engine, making a complete mess and creating a very ag-gravating work environment. Last month, we explained how to replace the side cover gasket. This month, we want to expand on that and explain how to replace a leaking PTO seal, and stop leaks at the valve chamber.

In this month’s segment of “Grassroots Tech Barn”, we are going to cover two issues that although completely unrelated; both can create problems at the track. Just as with all previous articles, we will try and make this a simple step-by-step process to remedy the problem quickly and efficiently.

Sometimes, it’s just a bad day. You get to the track, ev-erything is ready to go, roll up to the grid, pull the rope, and it just won’t start. What do you do? Where do you look first These are just a few of the questions that we will answer in this month’s installment of Grass Roots Tech Barn.

Last month we showed how to remove the flywheelfrom both the Animal and flatheadengine. This month, we want to dig a bit deeper into this subject. We will illustrate with more detailed images, the proper way to remove the flywheelsfrom both of these engines.

Over the last couple of months, we have been building our toolboxes for the track and the tech barn. Although many of the tools are very general and self-explanatory, there are a few that require further explanation on their application and use. This month, we will dig into and explain a few of these specialty tools.

Last month we covered the tools that we need to have at the track. This month we want to take it a step further. Every racer’s goal is to be in the tech room at the end of the night, which usually means we had a successful day at the track. We will help you to have the tools you need to disassemble your engine for tech inspection.

Racing karts are mechanical in nature. Mechanical things require tools. What tools are necessary? Do I need a huge box full of tools, or just a few wrenches? Well, those questions and more are the subject of this month’s article. We will help you to fillyour toolbox with the tools required to perform the job you need to do, and cover your bases without getting too carried away, which is something we all seem to have tendency to do.

Tires are one of, if not the most important aspects of any kart racing program. Not only having the proper tires, but the choice of which ones to select is an issue every kart racer faces every week at the track as well as at the shop.

In today’s world of kart racing, it is easy to sometimes overlook some very important items. All the time spent preparing tires, loading the trailer, and traveling to the races can be all for naught if our driveline maintenance is not up to par.

Welcome to the area of JRPW that we call "Extra Stuff." Here, you will find everything from news and updates to tutorials and tech guides. This month, we have added a new tech article to our library. As published in the September 2007 issue of Chase'n Race'n Illustrated, Jimmy Rivers explains how to properly align your kart using the Accutoe Pro.

Jimmy Rivers is the author of the “Speed Shop Scholar”, a tech series featured monthly in “Chasen Racen Illustrated”, Dirt Karting’s premier publication. Covering a wide variety of topics to assist the racer.